JoAnn focuses her practice on the defense of employers in claims and lawsuits asserting a variety of employment-related claims such as violations of state and federal employment discrimination statutes, claims of wrongful discharge, unlawful harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation resulting from whistle-blowing activity, as well as common law employment-related breach of contract and tort claims. From a liability perspective, JoAnn also defends claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and professional malpractice, as well as insurance coverage claims under GL policies. To her law practice JoAnn brings numerous years of experience in the insurance industry having managed and adjusted major claims for ACE-USA, as well as having worked in the Employment Law Department at CIGNA.
JoAnn brought a significant amount of employment litigation experience with her when she joined the firm in 2004. Prior to joining the firm, JoAnn was an Employment Litigation Attorney who counseled and represented employees in employment-related litigation matters in varied forums: federal and state administrative agency proceedings, mediation, arbitration and federal and state courts. Her experience also includes handling disability benefit claims, unemployment compensation claims, as well as negotiating separation and severance packages when possible. Before gaining experience with the Plaintiff's Bar, JoAnn assisted in-house counsel at a major corporation which defended a variety of employment matters brought by employees, current and former, of the corporation throughout the country.
Significant Representative Matters
Summary judgment granted for defendant in case against a health and fitness club regarding claims of discrimination because of sex relating to separation of facility exercise areas.
Defendant's summary judgment granted in case against school district alleging negligent hiring and retention of teacher accused of assault and racial discrimination stemming from incident with student.
Dismissal of claims of handicap discrimination on summary judgment against employer brought by former employee who suffered emergency medical incident at work, allegedly connected with his "handicap."
Summary judgment granted for defendant in case by former employee of restaurant, who was injured on machinery and sought liability against employer on basis of "substantial certainty" exception to workers' compensation laws. Successfully established that there was no intentional act to permit liability against employer and claims were barred by New Jersey Workers' Compensation Act.
JoAnn Veltrup Diaz 
